Tough act to follow

Expect Manilafasha to relegate others to footnotes at state

Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 26, 2006 at midnight

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It has been a long trek for Denver North's Joseph Manilafasha, from the African nation of Burundi to the high school cross country courses of Colorado. It is a journey he has relished, though.

Denver North dropped from Class 5A to 4A this year, but from the standpoint of Manilafasha's season, it might not have made much difference.

Manilafasha figures to be the top boys runner, regardless of classification, at the state cross country meet that will be staged Saturday at the El Pomar Complex in Colorado Springs.

Just call the swift sophomore "duma," which is the Swahili word for cheetah. In his eight races, Manilafasha has seven wins and has set six course records.

Manilafasha lost to Grand Junction's Richard Medina, the runner- up at 5A last season, at the Centerra Invitational in Loveland three weeks ago. Had Manilafasha not fallen near the end of the closely contested race, he might have swept his races.

"I don't think there is anyone tougher in the state, physically or mentally, than Joseph right now," North coach Dr. Jeff Young said. "He's only been running a little over a year now and is the real deal. I probably will never coach anyone at the level he can achieve again."

Along with his junior brother Eric Ndikumana, Manilafasha has made Denver North a threat all season.

"Eric (a junior) is good, but Joseph is just a freak of nature, and I mean that in a good way," Young said with a chuckle. "He is the real McCoy."

Manilafasha finished 17th at state in 5A last season, Ndikumana 16th. Still, Manilafasha is quite surprised at the season he has fashioned.

Perhaps he should not be. After all, he is a National Junior Olympic Youth cross country champion. He won the title against 271 runners Dec. 10, 2005, at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I.

"I never thought it would be this kind of a season," said Manilafasha, who speaks four languages and is a straight-A student. "I trained hard during the summer; this is kind of unexpected. Things have just come together."

Still, Manilafasha has his moments.

"I'm always nervous before a race," he said. "Like Africa, someone can come out of the bush. If if find the pace slow and have a good idea of the situation, I take the lead and try and pull away."

While Manilafasha is the favorite in 4A, he will face some solid competition. First and foremost is D'Evelyn's Kevin Williams, the state runner-up last season.

Other top competitors in 4A are Kurtis Vanatta (sixth last year) of team favorite Ralston Valley, Sheridan's Abiud Mojica, Jonathon Stevens of defending champion Battle Mountain and Jesse Fassler of Centaurus.

• CLASS 5A: Many cross country observers were starting to wonder when Arvada's Steven Weeks was going to come around.

Wonder no more.

Weeks, who will be after his third consecutive big-school title, has struggled at times this season. But the senior put it together at the Region 2 race, coming through with a 2-second win against Dakota Ridge sophomore Evan Appel.

Appel finished ninth last season at state.

Also returning will be Medina, who won Region 1 and was closely followed by his brother Martin, a junior who finished 48th at state last year.

More solid competition looms for Weeks and Medina. Thornton's Anguel Tolev (fourth last year), Monarch's Cameron Clayton (sixth), Chaparral's Steven Busch (eighth) and Palmer's Dean Black (12th) are set to challenge.

Clayton comes in as the Region 4 champion, though, having beaten Tolev by 2 seconds. Black enters state as the Region 5 champion, and freshman Scott Fauble of Wheat Ridge was the Region 3 champion.

In the team race, Dakota Ridge, fifth last year, appears more than ready to challenge two-time defending champion Fort Collins for the title. Other contenders include Cherry Creek, Grand Junction, Monarch, Chaparral and Wheat Ridge.

• CLASS 3A: Individually, it's difficult to handicap, as 36 of the top 50 runners from the meet last year return.

Victor Montoya of Rocky Ford, a sophomore who won his division at the prestigious Liberty Bell Invitational, placed third last year and has been the classification's most steady performer this season.

But he was beaten last week at the Region 3 meet by Classical Academy's Jeremy George - by an eyelash. Both were timed in 16 minutes, 51 seconds. George finished 16th at state in 2005, proving what a difference a year can make.

But both beat Trevor Waliszewski, George's teammate, who was the runner-up at state last year.

Others to watch are Brandon Reed from Colorado Springs Christian (fifth last year), Andrew Roberts from Lyons (seventh), Saul Martinez from Center (eight) and Region 5 champ Noah Hoffman from Aspen (ninth).

Bayfield is the defending team champion, but the Wolverines were beaten in the Region 4 meet by Pagosa Springs and might find it difficult to repeat.

Classical Academy, the 2004 champion, won the Region 3 meet, edging Rocky Ford.

stockers@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5275

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